Lekha Washington trolls 'love jihad' label with 'Do na love jihad' on Imran Khan romance

Mumbai: Actor Imran Khan and actress-artist Lekha Washington faced online trolling for their inter-faith relationship after appearing together at the Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos premiere, prompting Lekha's witty Instagram response.

In a video, Lekha mocked the " Love Jihad – apparently it is being done to me, a part Burmese, Italian , Punjabi , raised in south India, moved to north India with a dad who’s Roman Catholic but agnostic persona (is being love-jihaded by) a guy who’s father is part Hindu part Scottish and a mom who is Muslim. So I am like, ‘Do Na Love Jihad,’ and I say, ‘No, no. Instead, I make lights."

Speaking to Moneycontrol, she added, "Videos of me being used to fuel hate and division are the exact opposite of what I stand for. It’s important to deal with this with humor, in my opinion, quite literally, make light of the ridiculousness of it all." Lekha praised their multicultural families: "My own family is open, multi-hyphenate and respectful of all, as is my partner’s family. I get to witness how a multicultural, expansive, kind, creative and inclusive people beautifully support each other. How lucky am I? I am deeply humbled by the awesomeness of the folks around me"

On public scrutiny, she noted, "When other people say nasty, reductive things to you, it says a lot more about them than it does you. We live in a world where women are first judged by appearance and only much later by their own personhood. I will continue to be the best me I can be, doing the best work I can do. Haters are going to hate, lovers have to love."

Imran, previously married to Avantika Malik (2011-2019) with whom he shares a daughter, told ETimes their split was necessary: " I saw we were stuck in a cycle we couldn’t break. Any change required both of us, and it wasn’t happening. I understood that in order to be the healthiest, best version of myself, I have to remove myself from this relationship. We were not in sync; we were not able to support each other being the best version of ourselves. Whatever the hurt and trauma that comes from separation, it is still preferable to remaining in an unhealthy environment."

He later shared with Showsha how separation improved his health: "In the past seven years since we separated, my own personal health, emotional health, mental health have gone tremendously well. I look back at the pictures of myself in the last few years of my marriage and I look like a person with a serious illness. So it is ultimately for the good."